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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-29, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2000. PAGE 11. HPCDSB continues with double cohort study By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen The saga of the provincial educa tion ministry’s “double cohort study” continues within the Huron- Perth Catholic District School Board. Since being informed that Stratford’s St. Michael Secondary School would be among sample schools across the province in the study, board trustees have repeatedly questioned the initiative’s necessity and cost-effectiveness. At more than one meeting, they wondered aloud what the education ministry planned to do with the results of the planned survey, which was aimed at students from two different years who could all graduate from high school at once, as part of the so-called “double cohort.” The students represent those from the final year of the phased-out five- year high school curriculum and those from the initial year of the phased-in four-year program. Adding to trustee uncertainty was the fact the survey was initially sup posed to be in schools in October, but was then pushed back to November. And now, according to Superintendent of Education Ray Contois, St. Michael has been myste riously omitted from the list of sam ple schools, in favour of the board’s other secondary school, Clinton based St. Anne’s. “St. Anne’s received all the infor mation, so St. Anne’s is now the des ignated school,” Contois told bemused Huron-Perth trustees, dur ing the board’s regular meeting Monday, Nov. 27. According to Contois, St. Anne’s staff dutifully administered the sur vey, a copy of which was included for the information of trustees. And he says ministry officials were cor- rect when they estimated it would take students about 15 minutes to complete the survey. However, he explained, there was no mention of the “hours and hours of work by the principal and the sec retarial staff to put all that informa tion together.” Contois added he plans to inform ministry officials about what he called the “considerable” additional work. With the prospect of long-term financing for two major construction projects looming on next autumn’s horizon, the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board is looking into a consortium-type capital expendi ture coalition with various other Ontario school boards. Separate board trustees warned of provincial removal of $1.1 million By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Having just presented the board’s 1999-2000 financial statements at a regular meeting Monday, Nov. .27, including the cautionary note that next year’s budget will see the removal of almost $1.1 million of the province’s “mitigation” for the recently-completed amalgamation process, Superintendent of Business Gerry Thuss was eager to discuss the 2 1/2 year-old Catholic School Boards Services Association (CSBSA). Thuss told the media that the con sortium, currently based mainly in the Greater Toronto area, could help the Huron-Perth board create long term financing plans for ongoing expansions at both its secondary schools. He also suggested an agree- ment with the CSBSA could be ben eficial if it means the board can share with other boards the cost of major programming or equipment. The Services Association began in July, 1998 as a consortium of Greater Toronto-area Catholic school boards, which decided it would be beneficial to pool their needs and resources in acquiring anything from equipment to financing on capital expenditures. According to a letter sent to the Huron-Perth board by the CSBSA, there are currently six full member boards, as well as three associate members. - “In 1999/2000, CSBSA project teams realized cost savings/cost avoidance in excess of $4.6 million,” the letter states. Included with the letter was a sur vey inviting the interest of other boards. Thuss told trustees he has contacted CSBSA officials seeking more information. “We’d like to find out what we need to do to try and, potentially, get into a public offering for a debenture debt,” to help finance expansions at St. Michael (Stratford) and St. Anne’s (Clinton) secondary schools. Following the meeting, Thuss noted the Huron-Perth board is much smaller and faces vastly different population projections than the established members of the CSBSA, so its needs might not always corre spond with theirs. But he still expressed hope the board could establish a re lationship with the consortium with in a year. “In all areas, is it going to be ben eficial? Maybe not,” Thuss said. “But there are definitely going to be some areas where it is (beneficial).” Please Recycle This Newspaper GREY TOWNSHIP NOTICE The due date for the final instalment of 2000 taxes is November 30th, 2000. Brad Knight, Clerk Mulvey back home By Jim Brown Wing ham Advance-Times Wingham Stainton Spitfires’ defenceman Brad Mulvey has returned home from a London hospi tal. However according to team man ager Jeff Lockridge, his return to the Spitfires’ line-up is still in question. The manager indicated he will be taking Mulvey to lunch this week to discuss the future of his hockey career. The lacerated kidney sustained almost two weeks ago, is the third major injury he has suffered during the last three years. Last year he suf fered a broken arm, and the season before that a broken leg. GOING. ALWAYS GOING? fou couM be at risk for diabetes. CANADIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DU DIABETE CALL I-8OO-BANTING The Brussels Optimist Club ON $3.00 THURSDAYS Drop Into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $3.00 (paid In advance). That's $1.00 off regular rates The Citizen would like to congratulate the following teams on their recent success at the 27th Annual Brussels Optimist Atom Hockey Tournament held Nov. 3, 4, 5 and Nov. 24, 25, 26, 2000 in Brussels. "C" Division Champions - Mt. 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